Lower, Middle prep for Anchor Bowl

Written by Brian Cunniff Tuesday, November 20, 2012 05:27 pm

Football is one of the few sports that most high school players will never play again following the last game of their senior season.

It is one of the reasons why Thanksgiving rivalry games are so important because, in most cases, they represent the final game of the season and, for the seniors, the final football game most of them will ever play.

Locally, Middle Township and Lower Cape May will renew their Anchor Bowl rivalry Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at Memorial Field in Cape May Court House.

Due to the circumstances surrounding Hurricane Sandy, which essentially saw the entire high school football schedule in the state pushed back a week, both Lower and Middle will enter Thursday’s game on short rest. Middle is coming off a 23-13 state playoff loss to Willingboro on Friday, while Lower Cape May will experience an even shorter turnaround, having lost to Pemberton, 18-0, in a consolation game on Saturday.

Read more: Lower, Middle prep for Anchor Bowl

LCM lacrosse standout makes college choice - UPDATED

Last Updated on Monday, November 19, 2012 05:48 pm Written by Brian Cunniff Monday, November 19, 2012 04:03 pm

The most prolific scorer in the short history of the Lower Cape May Regional High School girls lacrosse program has made her college choice.

Lindsay Lare, who has already surpassed the 100-goal mark for her career with her senior season still to come this spring, will play at Division II University of New Haven (Conn.).

Lare was originally scheduled to sign a National Letter of Intent accepting a partial athletic scholarship offer from New Haven on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 20, in a ceremony at the school. The signing has been postponed, however, according to LCMR athletic director Mark Schiffbauer, because some of the invited guests could not make the event.

Read more: LCM lacrosse standout makes college choice - UPDATED

OCHS wins 8th state title in field hockey

Last Updated on Monday, November 19, 2012 05:51 pm Written by Brian Cunniff Sunday, November 18, 2012 07:22 pm

EWING – The Ocean City High School field hockey team returned to its familiar perch atop the state Sunday afternoon.

Lauren McNally and Jordan Allegretto provided second-half goals as the Raiders won the program’s eight state championship with a 2-0 victory over Warren Hills in the New Jersey Group III title game held at The College of New Jersey.

McNally’s tally, a shot from about 12 yards that banged off the right post and into goal, came with a little more than 15 minutes to play. Allegretto provided insurance with her goal about six minutes later.

Kate Johnson recorded her 17^th shutout of the season in goal for Ocean City (21-1), which conceded goals in only five games this season.

Read more: OCHS wins 8th state title in field hockey

This month in OCHS sports

Written by Tom Williams Friday, November 16, 2012 01:00 am

A quick look back at Raider highlights from the past

November 1998:

Cory Picketts scored on a penalty stroke two minutes into the final sudden death overtime and OCHS defeated Mainland, 2-1, to win the South Jersey Group 3 field hockey championship. It was her 33rd goal of the season. Katie Allegretto scored the Raiders’ other goal. Ocean City would go on to win the state title, 1-0, over Mount Olive when Picketts, now the OCHS head coach, scored the only goal in overtime.

Read more: This month in OCHS sports

Upper wrestling gears up for another season

Written by Staff Reports Friday, November 16, 2012 01:00 am

The Upper Township Green Hornet wrestlers are gearing up to battle their way through another tough wrestling season starting this week.

This season will be a special one as it will mark the 30th anniversary of Upper Township wrestling. Upper wrestling was founded back in 1982 by resident and former Ocean City Red Raider wrestler Bill Bailey. Current head coach Frank Sannino wrestled for Bailey in the 1980’s.

The Green Hornets team lost some great talent to graduation that included Ryan Fisher, Will Nickerson, Jerimiah Johnson, Jake Tuso, and Jake Keil. But the team will return most of their impressive varsity squad, led by two-time national champion Charley Cossaboone.

Read more: Upper wrestling gears up for another season

OCHS Red Raiders face Cumberland Regional Friday

Last Updated on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 03:13 pm Written by Tom Williams Thursday, November 15, 2012 03:04 pm

Ocean City High School Football

Ocean City (2-6) at Cumberland Regional (3-5)

Date: Friday, Nov. 16

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Place: Colts Stadium, 90 Silver Lake Road, Seabrook

Coaches: Ocean City’s Kevin Smith, is 4-14 in his second season after 15 years as an assistant. The Colt’s Tom Lake is 30-38 in his seventh season.

Read more: OCHS Red Raiders face Cumberland Regional Friday

The second season of football begins Friday

Written by Tom Williams Thursday, November 15, 2012 03:01 pm

Most of the area football teams will be in the NJSIAA football playoffs when the action begins on Friday night.

A total of 10 teams from the Cape-Atlantic League, plus Wildwood from the Tri-County Conference, will seek first round victories this weekend.

Actually, St. Joseph has already moved into the second round. The Wildcats were scheduled to host Newark Academy on Saturday but Newark Academy waived the white flag, forfeiting the game. This is the first year that the NJSIAA has allowed eight teams to qualify in Non-Public playoffs. It is a decision the association should re-visit. When there are only nine teams in a group it is ludicrous for eight of them to qualify.

Read more: The second season of football begins Friday

Field hockey, cross country advance in NJSIAA

Written by Tom Williams Wednesday, November 14, 2012 01:00 am

Ocean City High School boys cross country team

Ocean City High School teams advanced in NJSIAA competition in the last week, despite the obstacles placed in their way by storms.

The field hockey team reached the South Jersey Group 3 final against Kingsway, scheduled to be played at Egg Harbor Township on Tuesday night, after this paper’s presstime.

Both the boys and girls cross country teams, who were undefeated American Conference champions, finished second in South Jersey Group 3 meets.

Read more: Field hockey, cross country advance in NJSIAA

Miller’s goal sends Middle through in playoff

Written by Brian Cunniff Friday, November 02, 2012 04:38 pm

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township High School girls soccer team recorded two rather comfortable victories over Buena Regional during the regular season. But in Friday’s state playoff game, the Lady Panthers had all kinds of trouble shaking the Lady Chiefs.

Finally, a bit past midway through the second half, Middle got the decisive goal.

Laura Miller’s tally broke a 1-1 draw and gave Middle, the fifth seed in the South Jersey Group II Tournament, a 2-1 victory over 12^th seeded Buena.

Read more: Miller’s goal sends Middle through in playoff

Warriors on brink of playoff berth

Written by Brian Cunniff Sunday, October 28, 2012 12:32 pm

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Staff Writer

WILDWOOD – In addition to playing a game against Pitman on Friday, the players and coaches from the Wildwood High School football team will be doing some scoreboard watching this weekend.

The Warriors, shockingly easy 49-0 winners over Newark Academy to improve to 5-3, will qualify for the South Jersey playoffs for the first time in program history if at least one of three other Group I playoff contenders loses this weekend.

Wildwood, which can only pick up residual points this weekend as it has already played eight games, will be closely watching games involving Schalick, Audubon and Haddon Township. Schalick (3-4) plays at Woodstown (5-2), Audubon (4-3) travels to Paulsboro (5-2) and Haddon Township (4-3) is at Woodbury (6-1). All three of the team’s on Wildwood’s watch list will be underdogs this weekend.

Regardless of what happens this weekend, it’s rather remarkable that Wildwood is even in this situation. A program that struggled to win even one or two games a season for more than a decade is now enjoying its best season since 1999, when the team finished 6-4 and narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs.

Read more: Warriors on brink of playoff berth